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If you have not already done so, now would be a great time to make sure all your summer lawn and garden equipment is winterized.
When gasoline equipment sits idle for an extended period of time the remaining gasoline in the tanks, carburators and fuel lines tends to evaporate away leaving a gummy residue that clogs the system.
When practical you should drain all the remaining fuel, then run the engine to run out all the gas in the carb and fuel lines. If that is not practical, run the fuel supply as low as possible, then refill the tank with fuel that has had a fuel stabilizer added to prevent fouling the system. (You can buy fuel stabilizer at most automotive parts stores or boat marinas. Be very sure to add stabilizer to your boat tanks. You dont want to get a couple miles out and have the engine fail.)
During normal operations there are many acids that form inside internal combustion engines from moisture and combustion by products. Those acids are then absorbed into the oil in the crankcase. Best bet, run the engine a couple minutes to warm it up, then shut it off and drain the oil, and replace with fresh oil.
Now would be a good time to remove the mower blades and either replace them or have them sharpened and balanced. Spray the bare metal edges of the blades with a coat of spray paint to prevent rusting during winter storage.
Remove the spark plug an spray a light mist of WD-40 or put a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylander and crank the engine over a few times to coat the piston and cylander walls, then replace the spark plug.
If the machine has a battery and you store it in an unheated garage or shed you should remove the battery and store it inside for the winter. Batteries should be charged to full charge before storing and periodically recharged through the winter. When storing a battery do not sit it on a bare concrete or metal surface. Place a piece of plywood or a couple layers of corrugated cardboard under it and be sure to cover the battery so no metal object could fall on it and short it out, which could cause an explosion or fire.
If your machine has any grease fittings attached be sure to grease them. The new grease will push out any residual water that may be in the bearing journals which could cause rusting.
If you happen to have a plow share or a disc for you garden tractor, the plow share and disc's should be coated with a thick coating of automotive grease to prevent rusting. (As a kid on the farm I loved that chore. Only time we got to play in the grease bucket without getting a licking)
Check the air pressure in all the tires, and if possible, store the equipment up on blocks to take the stress off the tires and bearings during storage.
If you have any water tanks, such as irrigation tanks or spraying equipment be sure to thoroughly drain the tanks to prevent freezing. Also remove the hose nozzle and hang the hose to insure it drains. (Attach the nozzle to the equipment with a piece of wire so it wont get lost).
While your at it, you may want to get the snow blower out and test run it a bit. Nothing more aggravating then messing with a snowblower engine when your freezing cold looking at a foot of snow on the driveway.
Speaking of snow, heres a trick. Before you begin shoveling snow, spray the shovel with a bit of Pam Cooking spray.
When gasoline equipment sits idle for an extended period of time the remaining gasoline in the tanks, carburators and fuel lines tends to evaporate away leaving a gummy residue that clogs the system.
When practical you should drain all the remaining fuel, then run the engine to run out all the gas in the carb and fuel lines. If that is not practical, run the fuel supply as low as possible, then refill the tank with fuel that has had a fuel stabilizer added to prevent fouling the system. (You can buy fuel stabilizer at most automotive parts stores or boat marinas. Be very sure to add stabilizer to your boat tanks. You dont want to get a couple miles out and have the engine fail.)
During normal operations there are many acids that form inside internal combustion engines from moisture and combustion by products. Those acids are then absorbed into the oil in the crankcase. Best bet, run the engine a couple minutes to warm it up, then shut it off and drain the oil, and replace with fresh oil.
Now would be a good time to remove the mower blades and either replace them or have them sharpened and balanced. Spray the bare metal edges of the blades with a coat of spray paint to prevent rusting during winter storage.
Remove the spark plug an spray a light mist of WD-40 or put a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil into the cylander and crank the engine over a few times to coat the piston and cylander walls, then replace the spark plug.
If the machine has a battery and you store it in an unheated garage or shed you should remove the battery and store it inside for the winter. Batteries should be charged to full charge before storing and periodically recharged through the winter. When storing a battery do not sit it on a bare concrete or metal surface. Place a piece of plywood or a couple layers of corrugated cardboard under it and be sure to cover the battery so no metal object could fall on it and short it out, which could cause an explosion or fire.
If your machine has any grease fittings attached be sure to grease them. The new grease will push out any residual water that may be in the bearing journals which could cause rusting.
If you happen to have a plow share or a disc for you garden tractor, the plow share and disc's should be coated with a thick coating of automotive grease to prevent rusting. (As a kid on the farm I loved that chore. Only time we got to play in the grease bucket without getting a licking)
Check the air pressure in all the tires, and if possible, store the equipment up on blocks to take the stress off the tires and bearings during storage.
If you have any water tanks, such as irrigation tanks or spraying equipment be sure to thoroughly drain the tanks to prevent freezing. Also remove the hose nozzle and hang the hose to insure it drains. (Attach the nozzle to the equipment with a piece of wire so it wont get lost).
While your at it, you may want to get the snow blower out and test run it a bit. Nothing more aggravating then messing with a snowblower engine when your freezing cold looking at a foot of snow on the driveway.
Speaking of snow, heres a trick. Before you begin shoveling snow, spray the shovel with a bit of Pam Cooking spray.